December 7, 1998

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd.
Unisia JECS Corporation

Nissan, Hitachi, and Unisia JECS Agree to Start Feasibility Studies To Strengthen Joint Development Structure for ITS Driveway Control Technologies
― Hitachi Considers Capital Participation in Unisia JECS −

Tokyo ... Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., and Unisia JECS Corporation announced today that they have agreed to start feasibility studies to strengthen their joint development structure for developing cutting-edge driveway control technologies for ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems).

In order to promote the development work smoothly and efficiently, Hitachi intends to consider capital participation in Unisia JECS with a view to taking the No. 2 equity position after Nissan. Along with this, the company will consider sending its executives to the Unisia JECS board.

The three companies have jointly worked on developing powertrain control systems since 1994. They have decided to deepen their collaboration in anticipation of the actual operation of ITS, which includes automated driving, in the 21st century. Their joint initiative is based on their shared understanding that it is essential to develop integrated vehicle control systems which combine powertrain, braking and steering control systems.

If the feasibility studies prove the business to be viable, the three companies will go ahead with the following joint development work.

<Powertrain-related Area>
・Next-generation fuel injection system
・HEV (Hybrid-electric vehicles)
・EV (Electric vehicles), etc.
<Brake-related Area>
・Electrically controlled brake-by-wire system
<Steering-related Area>
・Directly-operated electrically controlled power steering system
<Integrated Vehicle Control System>
・Integrated overall vehicle control system combining the three functions of powertrain, braking and steering

###
Contact:

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
Corporate Communications Department
Foreign Media Section
Keiichi Tsuboi
Tel: 81-3-5565-2147
Fax: 81-3-3546-2669
e-mail: k-tsuboi@mail.nissan.co.jp

Hitachi, Ltd.
Secretary's Office
Public Relations
Kenichiro Mizoguchi
Tel: 81-3-3258-2055
Fax: 81-3-3258-5480
e-mail: mizo@cm.hitachi.co.jp

Unisia JECS Corporation
Administration Dept.
Hideo Nakayama
Tel: 81-462-25-8025
Fax: 81-462-23-1177
e-mail: hideo_nakayama@unisiajecs.co.jp